Prelimb: A Virtual Garden Galore

23 year-old landscape architect grad/genius David Harms is the founder of Prelimb, a virtual garden app.

Story Highlights:

• Prelimb is an app that changes the way gardens are grown
• Exclusive Video – How it works
• The making of Prelimb

DIY Imagine, Plan, Grow

Have you ever wanted to grow a garden, but had a hard time visualizing how it would all plan out? It’s your lucky day.

Prelimb is an IOS application used through the iPad to virtually grow plants in any outdoor space. The motto: know before you grow. While it is used mostly by homeowners, it can technically be utilized by anyone. You don’t have to be a plant expert to create your dream garden!

The app contains an extensive plant library along with specialized sun and water requirements.

Drag and drop your favorites into your yard through the iPad and Prelimb will show you its growth over time, in real-time.

Cool right?!

Check out this video on how it works:

Reasons why Prelimb is awesome:

• You can easily improve your gardening skills through the app – learn about plant selection and spacing.
• Not only is it an awesome app, its sustainable too. Prelimb has a drought tolerant focus, allowing you to choose from a diverse library filled with beautiful plants that don’t need a ton of watering or work.
• What sets Prelimb apart from other gardening apps is that it uses innovative augmented reality technology, aka you see in 3D instead of 2D.

Sprouting From The Ground Up:

Prelimb started out as an idea for David’s senior project as a landscape architecture major. He could see the difficulty in imagining what plants will look like five or ten years in the future, and how difficult it is to know what plants will work in what spaces.

“I noticed a good amount of clients being unsatisfied with landscape architects – not due to their craft, but because people always want ‘instant gratification.’ They wanted plants to look like they do in all the pretty pictures. And after a project is installed, clients tend to be unhappy with the results and put more and more plants in to fill the space. After all that time and money is spent, and the space is over-grown years later, they’ll tend to blame the landscape architect. But what if they could experience the designer’s vision from step one? Then they could actually see in the eyes of the designer. That’s where Prelimb comes in,” Founder David Harms explains.

Landscape Architecture faculty Joseph Dunstan and Dave Watts were both influential in the making of the application.

“Not only did he learn from us, but we learned from him as well. Everyone expanded their horizons. David really embraced technology and he successfully created a new benchmark within the department,” Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture David Watts said.

Together, Dunstan and Watts taught sections of a fifth year capstone series, where David spent nine months developing Prelimb.

“He had a great concept. He could see how augmented reality applies to landscape architecture and made that jump. David had to do the software side of Prelimb by himself. He put his nose to the grindstone and worked hard every single day,” Lecturer of Landscape Architecture Joseph Dunstan said.

Pelimb: The Journey to Becoming a Team 

David is the core development manager and CEO of the startup.

Growing up, David was fascinated with computers and would often build & rebuild computers for fun. In High School, he worked in Mt. Lassen National Park and achieved the status of ‘Eagle Scout’ in the Boy Scouts of America, both of which motivated him to fuse his interest in nature & technical systems and study landscape architecture.

Learning computer software programs like C sharp, JavaScript and also how to 3D model, David managed to develop the app by himself as a one man team two years ago. But developing an app is one thing- and structuring a business around it is another.

After an Intro to Entrepreneurship class at Cal Poly with Dr. John York, David formed a team. They have been working together for ten months and include David, Ashlyn Aiu, Grant Sukchindasathien, Garrett Fry, and more recently, Monica Alderette.

“If it weren’t for my team comprised of Cal Poly students & alumni, a business strategy guru, and various mentors – who have expertise ranging from business, to online marketing, to graphic design – Prelimb as a business wouldn’t look anything like it does today.” David explains. “Any of our market research? That’s Garrett hard at work. The experience you have interacting with the application? That’s Ashlyn doing her thing. Marketing strategy – that’s Grant grinding away. We collectively started this journey together. When we applied for the SLO HotHouse Accelerator program over summer, Prelimb shifted from a Senior Project prototype to a full-fledged business model,” Harms said.

Prelimb went through the Accelerator program at the HotHouse and is currently incubating there.

Present and Future for Prelimb 

Prelimb is currently being used by beta users- people who are testing out the app so the team can work out all the kinks and receive feedback.

Right now, Prelimb is working on getting the app ready for release in a few weeks. It will be available for iPads on March 25th, and the iPhone and Android releases will be available later this year.

They are also on their way to becoming incorporated and building a plant store within the app. They will continuously add plants and other content to the library as well.

Exciting times are ahead for this startup! Visit their Facebook page for updates and other cool stuff.

Tags: David Harms, LA, landscape architecture, Cal Poly Landscape Architecture, SLO plants, SLO gardens, gardens, augmented reality, startups, HotHouse, Morro Street, Prelimb, Joseph Dunstan, Dave Watts, John York, Ashlyn Aiu, Grant Sukchindasathien, Garrett Fry, Wallace Group, beta users, app, virtual garden

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Got Roomie Probs? Hit Up HomeSlice

Story Highlights:

• The lowdown on HomeSlice: a mobile application for organizing the home
• What’s included in the app
• The process of becoming a business

The Guys Behind It All:

These are the four Co-Founders of HomeSlice: (Pictured left to right) Jeremy Moyers, Caine Fair, Patrick Montejano and Shea Brucker. Jeremy came up with the original idea of the startup and teamed up with these guys to make it all happen.

Say Goodbye to Your Roommate Issues 

We all know that living with other people can be… frustrating at times. Especially in college. There is so much to keep track of-chores, bills, household necessities etc. It’s also hard to get people to take accountability for getting things done.

Realizing that all of this can be a lot to handle, four Cal Poly students created an app that is designed to help manage living with roommates.

Downloading this beauty can make a world of difference in stress levels when it comes to staying on top of things. It’s great for not only college students, but families too!

All About HomeSlice

HomeSlice literally “slices up the house” by categorizing what needs to be done and what tasks have been completed. It is literally its own social network for each individual home.

If you have any roomies that are often AWOL, you can still communicate with them effectively 24/7.

HomeSlice is available for both the IOS and Android operating systems. The IOS version was released on November 21st and the Android on December 17th 2014.

The best part is, this app is free!

There are four parts to HomeSlice:

• The Whiteboard: This is the group chat where anything can be written. It models the standard whiteboard that most people have in their kitchen, only digital. The white board is where you receive notifications.
• Supplies: List what you bought for the house and how much it was, or what you need. Items are either “in” or “out” of stock.
• Chores: Divide up the manual labor amongst roommates and get credit for what you do.
• Bills: Due dates and prices for future bills can be posted here. This feature is great for avoiding having to spot someone on a payment, as well as referring to past payments.

“All of the features come back to the whiteboard. It keeps everyone accountable and is the best means of communication for managing the household,” Co-Founder Caine Fair.

HomeSlice – From Startup to Company 

Back in October of 2012, computer science major Jeremy Moyers pitched HomeSlice as his idea for a senior project to Shea, Patrick and Caine’s (all entrepreneurship majors) business entrepreneurship class. Shae and Patrick were immediately interested and helped to form the first initial team. A few months later, Caine joined the them.

The guys spent countless hours and many months working on their product at the CIE. They have also worked with University Housing at Cal Poly.

In the Spring of 2013 they joined the Hatchery. Later on, out of 40 teams, HomeSlice was one of seven that the  CIE chose to participate in the Accelerator Program.

“What set us apart from others was that we had our whole team set. Everyone was fully on board and committed,” Co-Founder Patrick Montejano said.

They are currently incubating at the HotHouse, located in downtown SLO (955 Morro Street).

Within HomeSlice

As far as roles in the company, each Co-Founder continually helps each other out with everything; they share the work. For the most part, Jeremy is the tech wiz and works on developing. Patrick and Shae do a lot of the business development. Caine minored in graphic communications and works on design.

There are three part-time developers working with the company.

HomeSlice recognizes Tod Nelson as their lead mentor, someone who was extremely influential in starting their business.

As of now they are a general partnership and are on their way to becoming a corporation, in which they will make money.

HomeSlice = A Home Run

The company has experienced great success so far, especially within Cal Poly and the San Luis Opispo community.

Around 17,100 people have downloaded the app so far and the number will continue to grow. They have received only positive feedback from their users. Everyone loves the app!

HomeSlice was also featured on Life Hacker, one of the top blogs about personal productivity and software.

“Our focus right now is to build the best app possible, to build the best experience possible, and to get that level of engagement so that you are coming back to the app every single day,” Co-Founder Shea Brucker said.

The guys at HomeSlice are dedicated and passionate about their company. They will do what it takes to make it big, and are having fun in the process. “When you’re passionate about something like this, it doesn’t seem like work. I’m doing what I want to do,” Co-Founder Shea Brucker said.

HomeSlice is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Go get organized and download HomeSlice today!

Tags: house, home, HomeSlice, slo, San Luis Obispo, IOS, Android, whiteboard, chores, app, mobile application, organize, college, family, business, company, roommate, roomie, roomies, market, Jeremy Moyers, Caine Fair, Patrick Montejano, Shea Brucker, San Luis Obispo Startups, San Luis Obispo real estate

The Voice of Savvy Startups

Eric Frizzie, Jonathan York and Chelsea Brown are three influential people in the entrepreneurship world at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Hear what they have to say on startup culture!

1. Eric Frizzie

Q: What do you feel is great about your company, Summit Outdoor Supply?

A: “If I failed tomorrow… If my company goes under tomorrow, then I still succeeded because I got to do what people want to do their whole lives and I found a way to memorialize a friend,” CEO Eric Frizzie said.

ROTC Fourth year Eric Frizzie runs Summit Outdoor Supply, a company that sells all-in-one survival bracelets. It is difficult managing a business while still in college, but Frizzie is hardworking and determined. He is proud of all he has accomplished, and continues to change American lives with his product. This recording was shot on campus at Cal Poly.

2. Jonathan York

Q: What are some other qualities you look for in students who would be eligible to start a company?

A: To me, it’s open-mindedness. There’s a fine line between saying I’m going to make it work no matter what, and being willing to change. You have to be persistent, but you also have to be flexible,” Associate Professor Jonathan York said.

Besides being an Associate Professor in the Orfalea College of Business, Jonathan York is also Co-Founder of the Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is an entrepreneur himself and is dedicated to his students’ success in and out of the workplace. Jonathan is a great resource and mentor if innovation is something that interests you. He knows exactly what a students needs to do in order to thrive in the business world. This recording was shot in his office on campus.

3. Chelsea Brown

Q: What do you do here at the HotHouse?

A: I work for CIE. My role at the center is the Programs, Events and Media Coordinator. Which basically means that I implement, plan and run every single one of our events, for the most part,” Chelsea Brown said.

Chelsea has always been interested in entrepreneurship. When the events coordinator position opened up at the CIE, she immediately jumped at the chance and applied for an internship. She now holds the position of a full-time job there and loves it. Chelsea helps connect students with each other and with an entrepreneurial mindset with her event planning. This recording was shot in a conference room at the HotHouse.

 

Better, Faster, Stronger with RepairTech

Story Highlights:

• A look into the life of an IT
• The story of RepairTech
  
• What’s included in TechSuite: A toolbox for a technician

RepairTech went from an idea of a startup to a growing business.

Don’t Take Technology For Granted

Have you ever thought about what it takes to repair a computer? On average, it takes 887 clicks of a mouse per fix. Computer repair is a challenging and demanding profession. These techs have to deal with frustrated customers, viruses and an enormous amount of data. The job itself is also extremely tedious.

What if there was a way to make this job less stressful and the work more efficient?  Ian Alexander started a company that does exactly this for IT Professionals– people who work with computers and software; more specifically, repair shop technicians.

How It All Started

Ian, a computer engineer, worked as a repair technician for seven years. He compiled a to-do list that he used on each client’s computer, regardless of the particular problem. This list led to the idea of an automated toolbox: TechUSB.

After seeing an ad for the Innovation Quest Competition at Cal Poly in 2011, Ian decided to attend a workshop. It was there that he met Yashar Bahman, Erik Sandberg, and Justin Culbertson, who helped him turn his dream into a reality.

The four students entered the competition as a team with TechUSB as their pitch. They finished in first place along with $15,000 towards starting their business. The guys called themselves RepairTech.

From Past to Present

RepairTech made its way into the HotHouse, where they went through a pilot program and are now incubating.

“We have been incredibly fortunate to have amazing mentors. We take advantage of that. Carson Chen and Laura Pickering were extremely influential in starting our business,” Co-Founder and CEO Ian Alexander said.

The company created TechSuite, the toolbox for three features:

• TechUSB: Computer repair operating system that allows technicians to fix more computers in a short amount of time. Simply Scan, and you’re given a full report. So much less clicking!
• TechWARU: A one-click repair automation. Download and choose from over 350 repair processes within Windows.
• TechPortal: Acts as a dashboard for keeping track of customers so technicians can store, search and organize info.

“It provides a quick, easy way to have hundreds of tools at their fingertips, and run all of them. TechWARU also provides a bit of discovery, because there might be other tools in there that the technician didn’t know of,” Software Developer and Co-Founder Justin Culbertson said.

This awesome package is offered for $49 a month, with a free 30-day trial. You can also pay annually with, or without the trial.

About RepairTech

The majority of their customers are from the Unites States, but they have sold all around the world. Other buyers include people from UK, Canada, Indonesia.

RepairTech is generating revenue and continuously growing. They have a sales team and also advertise through google. Their partners include RepairShopr, FoolishIT, Association for Computer Repair Business Owners and SOS Online Backup.

RepairTech is constantly automating and modifying their product. They release new versions two to three times a month.

The company hopes to become a future powerhouse within the IT industry.

The RepairTech team officially launched their product on Halloween of 2012. Here is the six current employees at a HotHouse costume party. Left to right: Erik, Connor, Ian, Justin, Max, and Garrett.

Check out the bios of the RepairTech members here!

A Success Story

The guys from RepairTech are brilliant, innovative and funny. They have put in countless hours of work in order to start their business, and know what it takes to be successful.

“When we do something, we try to do it the right way the first time,”  Co-Founder and CEO Ian Alexander said.

Their determination and strong work ethic will help them continue to change the world. It seems as though the stars are aligned for this group. 

“We’re making it such an efficient process, that it’s a no brainer to use our software. There’s this huge amount of lag time that we’ve eliminated. We’re actually making a huge difference in a lot of people’s lives,” RepairTech Developer Connor Fourt said. 

Be sure to check out their Facebook page for updates! 

Tags: repair, repairshop, computer, software, technician, toolbox, tool, efficient, slo IT, San Luis Obispo computer repair, RepairTech, HotHouse on Morro Street, CIE, Cal Poly Entrepreneurs, Carson Chen, Laura Pickering, Justin Culbertson, Yashar Bahman, Erik Sandberg, Ian Alexander

Saving Lives One Bracelet At a Time

Eric Frizzie is the CEO of Summit Outdoor Supply, a startup that became a professional business.

Story Highlights:

• ROTC entrepreneur turns his dream of an innovative survival tool into a reality
• Inside scoop on the Barkley Bracelet
• Check out the upcoming S.O.S. event in SLO

Who is Eric Frizzie?

The twenty-two year old is a fourth year agricultural science major and is also in the ROTC program at Cal Poly.

Not only is he a full-time student, he is the CEO of Summit Outdoor Supply (S.O.S.), a business that sells life saving survival bracelets. 

From Vision To Business  

Eric and his friend Jesse Kinsel started making and selling paracord bracelets to members of ROTC and at street fairs around the SLO area. Paracord is a lightweight type of rope that can hold an extreme amount of weight. This material is primarily used to make parachutes and is a common tool for people in the military because  of its many uses.

Eric Frizzie (pictured right) and his business partner Jesse Kinsel (pictured left).

After selling these bracelets for some time, Eric came up with the idea of a new type of  bracelet that contained an all-in-one survival kit. Together Eric and Jesse started Summit Outdoor Supply.

Eric pitched his startup to Professor John York’s business entrepreneurship class.

Out of the 13 students who applied to work with him, he picked 6 people to join his team.

“I like that it was started by students. They have a very clear vision of what their brand is. They are incredibly persistent and determined,” entrepreneurship Associate Professor John York said.

The Barkley Bracelet

They called their product the Barkley Bracelet. It is named in honor of a friend of theirs who passed away.

What’s inside:

• 12-16 feet of paracord (can hold up to 550 lbs.)
• Industrial strength buckle with whistle
• Trail Marker
• Strike anywhere matches
• Fire starter
• Fishing lure and line
• Split shot weight
• Water storage
• Water Purification tablets
• Salt
• Antiseptic wipe

How it works: unweave to access survival gear. It is lightweight and waterproof!

“The bracelet is very innovative. If you’re ever in a situation where you need help, you should have it on. It has everything you need to make it a few days,” second year ROTC business major Jake Means said.

The bracelet comes in a variety of colors.

A Little About S.O.S.

The S.O.S. team.

This company is all about community and serving the needs of others. S.O.S. donates to and works alongside multiple philanthropy foundations.

A portion of the proceeds from every bracelet sold goes to military, law enforcement and firefighters. They work with NCI Affiliates and Achievement House – two organizations that provide jobs and services for both mentally and physically disabled people. Additionally, they work with Freedom Alliance, who takes wounded veterans on hunting and fishing trips.

Summit Outdoor Supply hires and gives juvenile delinquents full-time jobs after they graduate from the Grizzly Academy. They do all the manufacturing for the company.  Business and marketing is done mainly by Cal Poly students.

100% of the products are made by hand and in the USA. Businesses like this are hard to find nowadays.

Summit Outdoor Supply is located at : 8787 Plata LN Atascadero, CA

Call and get your Barkley bracelet today: 916.690.1873

A Man of Honor

Frizzie created a product with the idea in mind that it would change lives. Needless to say, he succeeded.

“No matter what you do, you have to find the why. You can’t succeed unless you’re willing to give it everything. If the why is not strong enough, you’re not going to make it. And what’s the point in living if you’re not going to try to do something amazing with your life? Life itself is amazing.

My why is the military and serving my country. At the end of the day God, family and this country is the most important thing in the world to me,” Frizzie said.

Eric Frizzie is truly an inspiration and a hero.

Come to the Launch Party!

On the 21st of March S.O.S. is having a launch party held at Marstons Bar in downtown SLO. They will be selling cool shirts for a discounted price. Mark your calendars and bring your friends! There will be a raffle with a chance to win awesome prizes!

Tags: s.o.s., summit outdoor supply, barkley bracelet, rotc, cal poly, slo, frizzie, philanthropy, survival, army, inspire, Eric Frizzie, John York, Marstons Bar, San Luis Obispo Startups, army, Jesse Kinsel, Grizzly Academy, Cal Poly Entrepreneurs, CIE, Jake Means

Start Your Day With VegThisWay

Business card of VegThisWay- A business that sells child friendly veggie snack bars!

Story Highlights:

• Four innovative students created a startup their senior year of college at Cal Poly
• VegThisWay managers are currently working at the HotHouse on 955 Morro Street
• See where Rawr Bars are sold in downtown San Luis Obispo and get yours today

How To Make Healthy Eating Look Good

What food did your mom always try and get you to eat more of as a kid? Vegetables.  Ah, yes. The thought of consuming veggies to a small child  can often be described as downright evil. There was such a variety of this food group, yet you never wanted to eat them. Why? Hmm… because they look weird? Gross? Yuck?

This is exactly what went through Kaitlin Munoz and Sabrina Muttillo’s minds when they were deciding on an idea for a product development competition through Cal Poly’s Food Science Department.

The competition was a student run program through the Institute of Food Technologists, where they were to create their own food product. Through trial and error, they came up with an awesome sweet potato flavor for a dehydrated vegetable fruit snack. They called it the Rawr Bar. Kaitlin and Sabrina won the competition, and then continued with this idea for their senior project.

Meet the Rawr Bar! VegThisWay figured out how to make vegetables look great to people of all ages.

With the help of  business entrepreneurship majors Kate Mecozzi and Caine Fair, the four launched the startup VegThisWay.

This is the VegThisWay Team (picture can be found on their website). They are the four employees and managers of the company. They also do everything themselves!

Pictured: Kate, Kaitlin, Sabrina and Caine

Making Their Way In The Business World

The team has been working at the HotHouse since two days after they graduated (June of 2013).  It’s a community space where people who want to start a company or invent new innovation can work.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without the CIE or the HotHouse. They provide us with all the resources we need. If we need anything, they can find somebody to help us. The support in general is amazing here,” cofounder Kate Mecozzi said.

VegThisWay participated in several entrepreneurship programs and events to prepare their business including:

• Elevator Pitch Competition
• Upper division Entrepreneurship course
• The Hatchery
• SLO HotHouse Accelerator 2013
• Incubator program (current)

The Accelerator Program and the Incubator Program are both offered through the HotHouse. The Accelerator Program is a 3 month deal where you are in the HotHouse everyday. You participate in workshops where you have mentors to help you along the way. They push you to get out there and talk to people about your product. After you complete this program you are eligible for the Incubator. You pay to work at the HotHouse for a fee of $50 per month and after the first year, the price increases.

“VegThisWay has grown immensely as a company in just the past year. They went from having a recipe for a vegetable snack product while at Cal Poly, to producing, labeling, and selling their product themselves. The team is incredibly driven and definitely has what it takes to become a household name”, Innovation Coordinator at Cal Poly Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Jake Disraeli said.

Rawr Bars On The Market

VegThisWay is now a fully functioning business. They make and sell Rawr Bars in two flavors: Beet-A-Peel and Super Sweet Potato.

This delicious snack is all natural and gluten free! Each product contains 1/2 a serving of vegetables. And guess what? They are only $1.50

“We want to do other products, all within healthy eating and healthy snacks,” cofounder Kaitlin Munoz said.

VegThisWay sells to:

• Lincoln Deli
• WeOlive
• Crushed Grape
• Echo Bambino
• The Slo Op
• Natural Foods Co Op
• Online 

“We’re continuing to grow our business here in San Luis Obispo, and get our product into as many people’s hands as possible,” cofounder Sabrina Muttillo said.

Check out VegThisWay today and be on the lookout for new flavors!

Tags: vegetables, veggies, VegThisWay, Rawr Bars, healthy, snack, HotHouse, fruit, HotHouse on Morro Street, San Luis Obispo Startups, CIE,  Kaitlin Munoz, Sabrina Muttillo, Caine Fair, Kate Mecozzi, slo entrepreneurship

Digital Slideshow: Startup Weekend —–> HotHouse

Startup Weekend 2014 was a hit; a total of 120 tickets were sold, topping the charts from previous years. This event was held in Chumash Auditorium and drew a broad range of students and locals from the San Luis Obispo community. Ideas were pitched, teams were formed and startups were created.

Jake Disraeli (pictured third from left), innovation coordinator at the center for innovation and entrepreneurship consults with a team of students about their powerpoint presentation on electric cars. Jake acted as a coach and mentor at Startup Weekend. “This event is so much fun to be a part of, and really embodies what entrepreneurship is all about.”

At the end of the presentations, the audience voted on their favorite startup. This score showed who was most popular to the public, but was separate from the actual judging and awards ceremony.

The HotHouse is a space where student and local innovators work to build their startup businesses. It is run through the Cal Poly center for innovation and entrepreneurship (CIE) and is located in the heart of downtown SLO.

The interior design of the HotHouse is unique and creative. Who says work can’t be fun? Toys, posters and personal belongings can be found all over this office.

Dan Weeks, founder of Q-Aces, a SEO consulting firm, discusses his plans to recruit Cal Poly journalism students to work for him by rewriting articles. Q-Aces works to improve the ranking of other businesses websites. His motto is, “What others think about you is more important than what you think about yourself.”

Different conference rooms in the HotHouse are named after places where the ideas of startups originated. Others include “The Garage” and “The Coffee Shop.”Different conference rooms in the HotHouse are named after places where the ideas of startups originated. Others include “The Garage” and “The Coffee Shop.”

This cubicle of an ICracked employee is one of many used by co-working companies. ICracked was a sponsor at Startup Weekend; they are a new and thriving business that repairs and buys Apple iPhones, iPads, and iPods.
“We’re the AAA of smartphones,” former graduate of Cal Poly and ICracked employee Cody Ward said.

The front of the HotHouse displays a “living wall.” This is one of Z Living Systems’ vertical gardens. They are now a fully functional company thanks to the HotHouse.

Future plans of a CIE location on campus at Cal Poly. The new HotHouse is proposed to be in Cotchett Education Building.